Colégio Cantinho das Alfazemas is a childcare and early education centre in Parque das Nações, Lisbon, founded in 2013 from a parent’s vision of a more open, child-centred school. Initially welcoming children up to age three, the school expanded in 2020 to serve children up to age six. Its approach sees the school as an extension of home and part of the surrounding community, creating opportunities for children to continue exploring, learning and developing new skills in their everyday environment.

The school values each child’s abilities, interests, knowledge and individual personality. It aims to respect children’s distinctive characteristics and ways of expressing themselves, while encouraging initiative and a sense of responsibility for commitments. Rather than treating a child simply as one member of a group, Cantinho das Alfazemas seeks to recognise and support each child as an individual. Its offering centres on nursery care and kindergarten education, providing families with an alternative to conventional early schooling.